The Rematch

[VimSince03]

Double Secret Agent DC Roger Cooper ready to come through for the Cats against the Griz one more time...

[ilovethecats]

The Cats have a TON to work on from less than a month ago. That day the griz were better but the Cats got all the breaks. We played scared not letting their best playmakers beat us. We can't do that again. Ah Yat was the best qb on the field. They're run defense is just going to be better Saturday. Our interception was lucky and no way that will happen again. Dowler is the luckiest defender in the conference. We are scared of this rematch. Bobby sent a message to us by running up the score on a dominant South Dakota team. On paper we have won the same amount of playoff games, but the griz are the hottest team in all of football. And finally; Mercyhurst.

Cats need to really get to work to have any shot at home this Saturday.

This is one of the worst takes I've seen on this board in the 15+ yrs I've been on here

Exactly.

[ilovethecats]

Happy to eat crow on this but I think the homefield advantage is being severely under-discussed. This Griz team has played in exactly zero hostile environments in 2025. Their offense has not had to operate differently once. Will they still score and get explosives? Absolutely but I'm surprised their own fanbase hasn't brought it up more as just a talking point.

Yeah but they got Kyon Loud back, so it’s basically like they’re at home.

Man, you haven't been here long but just may be my favorite poster.

[iaafan]

Happy to eat crow on this but I think the homefield advantage is being severely under-discussed. This Griz team has played in exactly zero hostile environments in 2025. Their offense has not had to operate differently once. Will they still score and get explosives? Absolutely but I'm surprised their own fanbase hasn't brought it up more as just a talking point.

Cats played seven (at the time) top 25 teams (6 13 or higher):
@ Oregon - 7
Vs SDSU - 2
@ NAU - 13
Vs UC Davis - 10
@ UM - 2
Vs Yale - 21
Vs SFA - 10

Griz played five (all at home; only one above 10):
Vs UND - 17
Vs Idaho - 10
Vs MSU - 3
Vs SDSU - 18
Vs USD - 20

I think their toughest road game was unranked Idaho State due to the noise in that dome. They won by 4. MSU played in a similar venue at #13 NAU but won by 24.

[BelligerentBobcat]

Happy to eat crow on this but I think the homefield advantage is being severely under-discussed. This Griz team has played in exactly zero hostile environments in 2025. Their offense has not had to operate differently once. Will they still score and get explosives? Absolutely but I'm surprised their own fanbase hasn't brought it up more as just a talking point.

Maybe it's just eGriz, but their fanbase is actually one of the dumbest I've seen when it comes to actual football knowledge. It's really quite startling.

[NewEra]

Happy to eat crow on this but I think the homefield advantage is being severely under-discussed. This Griz team has played in exactly zero hostile environments in 2025. Their offense has not had to operate differently once. Will they still score and get explosives? Absolutely but I'm surprised their own fanbase hasn't brought it up more as just a talking point.

Maybe it's just eGriz, but their fanbase is actually one of the dumbest I've seen when it comes to actual football knowledge. It's really quite startling.

Every time I venture over there I read a few posts and immediately regret it. Truly some of the dumbest most ignorant posts you’ll ever come across on a sports message board.

[BornBobcat2000]

I understand that as fans we get nervous. We can cheer like crazy and make it difficult for their offense to execute due to the noise. However, there is nothing else we can do that impacts the game. On the other hand, our players have everything to do with the outcome. I guarantee you that they are embracing this tremendous opportunity! Just like everything in life, the greater the opportunity, the greater the risk; the greater the risk, the greater the opportunity. Winners live for these kinds of moments. You realize the opportunity, embrace it, focus fully on the process, and block out all the noise including the fear of failure. Results are never guaranteed, but what a tremendous opportunity is before this team. To beat the griz twice, knock them out of the playoffs, go to the national championship with the upper hand, and play the game you love with your closest friends in front of your home fans screaming like crazy for you. These are the kinds of moments winners live for. I am confident that our players will have their minds right and lay it all on the line. This is fun!

This is exactly the mindset I want to have about all of this… what an opportunity!

[BornBobcat2000]

The Cats have a TON to work on from less than a month ago. That day the griz were better but the Cats got all the breaks. We played scared not letting their best playmakers beat us. We can't do that again. Ah Yat was the best qb on the field. They're run defense is just going to be better Saturday. Our interception was lucky and no way that will happen again. Dowler is the luckiest defender in the conference. We are scared of this rematch. Bobby sent a message to us by running up the score on a dominant South Dakota team. On paper we have won the same amount of playoff games, but the griz are the hottest team in all of football. And finally; Mercyhurst.

Cats need to really get to work to have any shot at home this Saturday.

This has to be sarcasm… right?

[ilovethecats]

The Cats have a TON to work on from less than a month ago. That day the griz were better but the Cats got all the breaks. We played scared not letting their best playmakers beat us. We can't do that again. Ah Yat was the best qb on the field. They're run defense is just going to be better Saturday. Our interception was lucky and no way that will happen again. Dowler is the luckiest defender in the conference. We are scared of this rematch. Bobby sent a message to us by running up the score on a dominant South Dakota team. On paper we have won the same amount of playoff games, but the griz are the hottest team in all of football. And finally; Mercyhurst.

Cats need to really get to work to have any shot at home this Saturday.

This has to be sarcasm… right?

My god

[BelligerentBobcat]

The Cats have a TON to work on from less than a month ago. That day the griz were better but the Cats got all the breaks. We played scared not letting their best playmakers beat us. We can't do that again. Ah Yat was the best qb on the field. They're run defense is just going to be better Saturday. Our interception was lucky and no way that will happen again. Dowler is the luckiest defender in the conference. We are scared of this rematch. Bobby sent a message to us by running up the score on a dominant South Dakota team. On paper we have won the same amount of playoff games, but the griz are the hottest team in all of football. And finally; Mercyhurst.

Cats need to really get to work to have any shot at home this Saturday.

This has to be sarcasm… right?

My god

It’s astounding.

[onceacat]

In case my post got the TL/DR treatment, consider:

-Griz have not won in Bozeman in over 10 years.

-Last three rivalry games in Bozeman, Cats won by average of 30 points.

-The Cats are 39-2 at home under Vigen (both losses in OT, one against SDSU and one NDSU).

-The Griz, to my knowledge, have one road playoff win in their history (2008 @ JMU).

Anything can happen on Saturday, but the Cats should be very confident and the Griz should be very scared.

Also: Cats have an extra day of prep & no travel

[onceacat]

Do you think the one extra day of preparation for the game is a positive, negative, or nothing at all

Definitely a positive. One more day to relax, one more day to prepare, it all matters.

The biggest thing is that the Cats (mostly the coaching staff) are able to watch the game & plan in real time while the Pandas are playing. Cats have a day of practice in before Bobby finishes watching film.

Theres also a day of travel.

Its one of the reasons why home teams have an advantage across all sports.

[TomCat88]

The Cats have a TON to work on from less than a month ago. That day the griz were better but the Cats got all the breaks. We played scared not letting their best playmakers beat us. We can't do that again. Ah Yat was the best qb on the field. They're run defense is just going to be better Saturday. Our interception was lucky and no way that will happen again. Dowler is the luckiest defender in the conference. We are scared of this rematch. Bobby sent a message to us by running up the score on a dominant South Dakota team. On paper we have won the same amount of playoff games, but the griz are the hottest team in all of football. And finally; Mercyhurst.

Cats need to really get to work to have any shot at home this Saturday.

This has to be sarcasm… right?

My god

I can feel your pain. It's emanating out of my computer screen.

[kwcat]

The Cats have a TON to work on from less than a month ago. That day the griz were better but the Cats got all the breaks. We played scared not letting their best playmakers beat us. We can't do that again. Ah Yat was the best qb on the field. They're run defense is just going to be better Saturday. Our interception was lucky and no way that will happen again. Dowler is the luckiest defender in the conference. We are scared of this rematch. Bobby sent a message to us by running up the score on a dominant South Dakota team. On paper we have won the same amount of playoff games, but the griz are the hottest team in all of football. And finally; Mercyhurst.

Cats need to really get to work to have any shot at home this Saturday.

This has to be sarcasm… right?

My god

It’s astounding.

We are lucky to be allowed on the same field!

[MrGoodKat]

Griz fans and media are happy talking their way through this in ways I have never encountered.

Some of the things I’ve heard reputable people say in the last 24 hours:

-All the pressure is on MSU because they’re at home. UM doesn’t have much at stake and can just play loose.

-The home field advantage in this game is over because MSU won in Missoula.

-If Wortham catches that ball that Dowler picked, he houses it.

-Virtually zero talk about Vigen’s record at home or the Griz’s playoff road record.

It’s astounding. You’d think UM was -13.5.

[MrGoodKat]

Every single objective factor in this game favors the Cats. Every last one. The previous matchup, the spread, the location, their home record, UM’s playoff road record… anything that’s real and tangible that you can point to favors the Cats.

But if you want, you can go down narrative street with the GFP or listen to story time with Uncle Marty.

[catscat]

Happy to eat crow on this but I think the homefield advantage is being severely under-discussed. This Griz team has played in exactly zero hostile environments in 2025. Their offense has not had to operate differently once. Will they still score and get explosives? Absolutely but I'm surprised their own fanbase hasn't brought it up more as just a talking point.

Maybe it's just eGriz, but their fanbase is actually one of the dumbest I've seen when it comes to actual football knowledge. It's really quite startling.

Every time I venture over there I read a few posts and immediately regret it. Truly some of the dumbest most ignorant posts you’ll ever come across on a sports message board.

They don't have to be knowledgeable. They're
entitled to win because they are Montana. And, after all, Robbi Hawk is good for 10 tackles (I'll take the over). AND, they have Monte.

Go 'Cats!!

[Prodigal Cat]

Happy to eat crow on this but I think the homefield advantage is being severely under-discussed. This Griz team has played in exactly zero hostile environments in 2025. Their offense has not had to operate differently once. Will they still score and get explosives? Absolutely but I'm surprised their own fanbase hasn't brought it up more as just a talking point.

Maybe it's just eGriz, but their fanbase is actually one of the dumbest I've seen when it comes to actual football knowledge. It's really quite startling.

Going through the griz fan pod and the takes on there are breathtakingly bad.

[Bocephus]

Griz fans and media are happy talking their way through this in ways I have never encountered.

Some of the things I’ve heard reputable people say in the last 24 hours:

-All the pressure is on MSU because they’re at home. UM doesn’t have much at stake and can just play loose.

-The home field advantage in this game is over because MSU won in Missoula.

-If Wortham catches that ball that Dowler picked, he houses it.

-Virtually zero talk about Vigen’s record at home or the Griz’s playoff road record.

It’s astounding. You’d think UM was -13.5.

I, for one, am glad they are spinning these narratives. It plays right into the Cat's hands.

[cats2506]

Griz fans and media are happy talking their way through this in ways I have never encountered.

Some of the things I’ve heard reputable people say in the last 24 hours:

-All the pressure is on MSU because they’re at home. UM doesn’t have much at stake and can just play loose.

-The home field advantage in this game is over because MSU won in Missoula.

-If Wortham catches that ball that Dowler picked, he houses it.

-Virtually zero talk about Vigen’s record at home or the Griz’s playoff road record.

It’s astounding. You’d think UM was -13.5.

I really dont understand the "Pressure" comment. I have heard it several times online in different places.

It makes no sense to me. This is the f#&king semifinals with an opportunity to go to the NC. Cats have the familiarity of being at home and not having to travel.

I think seeing that comment shows how far they are willing to reach to feel more confident about their own team.